While a housing crisis hits La Rochelle and its outskirts, the only niche that is not yet overcrowded is that of luxury real estate. Private hotels, villas with swimming pools or even large lofts… These exceptional properties arouse a lot of curiosity.
In La Rochelle, a very particular niche is available to investors: luxury real estate. Against the backdrop of the housing crisis, this area arouses a lot of curiosity, “this is explained by the fact that these properties are quite rare in the sector”, explains Angélique Sawtell, commercial director of Maxwell-Baynes Christie’s International Real Estate La Rochelle Agency . Based in the Old Port of the city, Maxwell-Baynes Christie’s is an agency specialized in luxury real estate and auctions. The luxury real estate team of La Rochelle is is the ones handling the most expensive properties of Charente-Maritime.
This property perfectly reflects the agency’s catalog offered by Christie’s, “it is a two-story mansion, offering 300 m2 of living space. It was built in the 16th century, but some rooms are dating from the 18th century” , explains Angélique Sawtell. Moldings on the ceiling, a period herringbone parquet floor, historical La Rochelle paving stones in the interior courtyard… Visually, everything meets the prestigious standing of Christie’s, « We are selling this property for 2 million euros”, continues the director of the agency.
For 2 million euros, which audience is Christie’s aimed at? “We have international clients and many French who return to France from being abroad,” explains Angélique Sawtell. She has also recently noticed the return of American buyers since the end of the health crisis. And on top of that, the approach evolves depending on the location of the property, “In La Rochelle, clients ask for a residential home, while on the Ile de Ré we sell a lot of secondary residences”.
Despite everything, Angélique Sawtell and her employees remain aware of the surrounding problems, which is why she carefully check each file. “For this private mansion for example, we really prefer to sell it to a family who will keep it for a long time, not transform it into apartments,” says the director of the Maxwell-Baynes Christie’s International Real Estate La Rochelle Agency . In La Rochelle this type of property is rare and there is a reason why according to Angélique Sawtell. « Many have been transformed into apartments, the properties which have been preserved can be counted on the fingers of one hand”.
